Weighing apparatus for materials undergoing transference



May 4, N A HALLWOOD v WEIGHING APPARATUS FOR MATERIALS UNDERGOING TANSFERENCE Mgy 4, 1937. N. A. HALLwooD 2,079,402

WEIGHING APPARATUS FOR MATERIALS UNDERGOING' TRANSFERENCE Filed May 29, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Maar/MMM y/w//M A dbbomcq May 4, 1937- N. A. HALLwooD ,2,079,402

WEIGHI-NG APPARATUS FOR MATERIALS UNDERGOING TRANSFERENCE Filed May 29, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /I/ zanAfaZZZI/oad Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNDERGOING TRANSFERENCE Nathan A. Hallwood, Columbus, Ohio Application May 29, 1934, Serial No. '728,144

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved weighing mechanism for accurately indicating, registering or recording the Weight of loose bulk materials while the latter are undergoing a stage of transference from one position to another. In certain of its more specic aspects, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved weighing mechanism to indicate or record the weight of coal while it is being delivered to a storage receptacle or bin. My invention, however, is broadly adapted for the weighing of all kinds of materials and has many industrial applications, such, for instance, as the weighing of ores, sands, clays, cement, flour, liquids and numerous other commodities, while undergoing transference.

In order to weigh such materials during transference thereof from point to point, the present invention provides weighing mechanism wherein is embodied a supporting frame carrying a pivotally mounted beam, supported at one end by means of a suspended spring structure which tends to maintain the beam in a normal or zero position and to resist deflection thereof from said position, the beam being provided, intermediately of the length thereof, with a pivotally mounted commodity receiver having a pair of compartments disposed in offset relationship with respect to the pivotal mounting between the receiver and the beam, the arrangement of said compartments being such that when one thereof has received a given quantity of a material being weighed, the said receiver will become unbalanced and will rotate about its pivotal connection with the beam, thereby discharging the contents of the i'lrst compartment and at the same time locating the second compartment so that it will immediately be in position for receiving further quantities of the material undergoing weighing.

A further object of the invention resides in utilizing the movement of the beam when deilected from its normal or zero position for effecting the actuation of associated registering or recording mechanism, in order that the weight of the material handled by the mechanism may be made known and accurately determined by those interested.

It is a further object of the invention to pron vide mechanism of this character which will function eiiectively when the materials to be weighed are substantially constantly delivered thereto, so that the operation of the mechanism may be ef- :fected rapidly but without loss of accuracy.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following descrip tion and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View taken through the weighing apparatus comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1; .3 Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the Weight registering mechanism; o

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the weight registering mechanism on the plane indicated by the line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of a slightly modiiied form of my improved weighing apparai tus;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line VII- VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the weight recording chart employed in connection with the form of apparatus disclosed in Fig. 6

Fig. 9 is a detail elevational View of the switch mechanism employed for governing the operation of the means for positively returning the weighing beam to normal position;

Fig. l0 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical apparatus and magnetic clutch employed for returning the beam to normal position following successive trippings of the Weight receiver.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates a foundation which may comprise a sidewalk, a wall of a building or other unit in which is formed an opening 2 for the passage of loose bulk material, such as coal, from one point to another. In the specific form of the invention illustrated, the foundation I comprises a sidewalk in which the opening 2 is formed in order that coal may be transferred from a carrying vehicle to an underground point of storage, and the present invention provides weighing apparatus by which the party purchasing the coal may be informed as to the amount of coal actually delivered. It is manifest, however, that the invention is applicable to the handling and weighing of other materials for different purposes.

In this instance, there is suitably secured to the under side of the foundation I a metallic supporting frame or base 3 provided with vertical 50 flanges 4. Secured to the iianges 4 are horizontally aligned knife edge pivots 5 which eiect the anti-friction support of the inner end of a beam 6 of rectangular or U-shaped form. Connected with the outer end of the beam 6 is a bi-metal 55 thermostatic strip 1 which carries at its outer and lower end a hook which is received within an eye 9 provided in connection with a bar IIJ. The outer ends oi the bar are equipped with threaded bolts I i to which are attached adjustable spring securing nuts I2, and coil springs I3 have their lower ends securely attached to the nuts I2. The upper ends of the springs I3 are connected as at I4 with the outer ends of a link i5, the latter being intermediately pivoted as at I6 in connection with the frame 3. When the beam 6 is unweighted or devoid of an applied load, the springs I3 serve to maintain the same in the elevated position disclosed in Fig. l, which comprises the normal position of the beam. 'Upon the application of a load to the beam, the latter oscillates about the bearings and is de- '.Iiected downwardly in a vertical plane against the yielding resistance o the springs I3. The thermostatic strip 1 operates, as usual. to compensate for variations in atmospheric temperature and spring expansion by varying the effective length of the beam.` The bar ID also carries, adjacent to the springs I3, vertical rods I1 which have their upper ends connected with the horizontally disposed yoke I8. From the central portion of this yoke, there depends a rod I9 which is connected with the piston disposed within the cylinder 23 of a one-way dashpot. That is, the dashpot operates in conjunction with the springs I3 to stabilize the operation of the beam upon the application oi loads thereto but does not interfere with the rapid return of the beam to a normal position when the same is unweighted.

Pivotally carried by the beam as at 2I is a weight receiver 22, which is adapted for tilting or oscillating movement in connection with the beam. This weight receiver is formed to embody a plurality of compartments 23, the centers of gravity oi which being offset with respect to the pivot 2i. One or the other of the compartments 23 will be maintained constantly in registration with the opening of the foundation I to receive the material undergoing transference and upon which weight determinations are desired. rThis material will pass through the opening 2 and will be received within one or the other of the compartments 23. When the compartments have been filled to a predetermined degree with this material, the unbalanced or off center positions thereof will cause the weight receiver to rotate bodily about its pivotal axis 2l, thereby automatically discharging the contents of a given compartment and allowing the beam and the weight receiver to return immediately to an elevated position under the influence of the coil springs I3. The balance of the weight receiver in discharging its contents may be regulated by the provision of a threaded stein 24 connected with the weight received in alignment with its pivot 2i, the stem having mounted thereon an adjustable weight 25. The provision oi the weight 25 renders the balance of the weight receiver desirably sensitive so that it will trip when a predetermined load has been applied thereto. Regardless, however, of the tripping of the weight receiver, the present invention provides a means for recording, indicating or registering the amount of material positioned in the weight receivers so that the operation oi the weighing apparatus will be accurate irrespective of the tripping action oi the weight receiver.

This is attained by providing the beam with a check rod 26 which has its lower end connected with the beam in alignment with the pivot 2l.

The upper 'end of the check rod is pivotally connected as at 21 with one end of a check member 28, the opposite end of the check member being fixed to a rotatable shaft 29 journaled in connection with the frame or base 3. It will be understood that the check rod and check member function in the usual manner common to weighing apparatus for rendering the operation of the latter accurate regardless of the position of the applied weight in or on the weight receiver. The rotation of the shaft 23, in response to the deflection of the beam 6 from normal, osclllates a crank arm 30 with which are connected pivoted pawls 3| disposed for engagement with ratchet teeth 32 of a weight indicator wheel 33. It will be understood that the throw of the crank arm is proportional to the deflection of the beam so that the weight indicator wheel will be revolved to properly indicate or record the weight of the ma.- terial handled by the apparatus.

The wheel 33 has its rim formed with internal gear teeth 34, which mesh with an idler 35 mounted on a bracket arm 3B formed in connection with a casing 31 of a weight register 3B. The idler drives a pinion 3] which rotates the axially disposed counter-shaft 4D which is journaled within the casing 31 and carries the usual odometer counter-wheels 4I, the numerals on which are viewable through an opening in the wall of the casing 31. Detents 42 are carried by the bracket arm 36 and engage with the teeth of the wheel 33 to prevent backward movement thereof. The wheels 4I are of the usual type wherein one wheel is compelled to make a iull revolution to partially rotate the next adjacent wheel through a predetermined increment of travel.

To govern the extent of oscillation of the weight receiver, the latter may be provided with pins or other equivalent stop devices 43, which are adapted to alternately contact with the check rod 28, thereby limiting the tripping movement of the receiver so that one of its compartments be maintained constantly in registration with the material receiving opening formed in the foundation I.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to l0, the weighing beam is designated at 45 and is iulcrunied as at 46 in connection with a suitable supporting frame 41. The outer end of the beam 45 is provided with the thermostatic strip 48 and hook 43, which is connected with a transverse bar 50 with which is joined the lower ends of coil springs 5I. The upper ends of the springs are connected with a cross bar 52 supported in connection with a lever 53 pivoted as at 54 in connection with the frame 41. One end of the lever 53 is provided with a set screw 55 by means of which the tension of the springs 5I may be adjusted to maintain the beam in its desired normal position.

The beam 45 is provided with the weight receiver 56 formed with the spaced compartments 51 and pivotally mounted as at 58 in connection with the intermediate portion of the beam. Also pivotally mounted as at 58 in connection with the beam are the lower ends of check rods 59, which have their upper ends pivotally connected as at Si] with check links 6I, the other ends of the latter being pivotally supported by a rod 62 carried by the frame 41. The weight receiver is provided with the stationary stops 63 which engage with the check link 6I to limit the extent of oscillation of the weight receiver when the latter trips to discharge its contents and to insure normal.

equal deflection of both hoppers for a given load.

In this form of my invention, the bar 58 is provided with an arm 64 with which is connected the lower end of a stylus 65 mounted for vertical movement in a recorder casing 66. In this recorder casing, there is arranged, as disclosed in Fig. 8, a pair of vertical rolls 61, one of which may be driven or positively rotated by a spring motor mechanism, not shown. The rolls 61 carry a strip oi paper or the like 68 which slowly but constantly moves, when the recorder is in operation, from one roll to the other. On the strip 68 there is printed or otherwise disposed data with respect to material weights, such for instance as pound markings. The upper end of the stylus 65 carries the writing instrument 69, the point of which is maintained in constant engagement with one surface of the strip 68. By this arrangement, when the beam 45 is deected from zero or its normal position, correspending movement will beimparted to the writing instrument 69, causing the latter to produce a record on the sheet or strip 68 of the amount of material weighed by the apparatus.

Another feature of this form of my invention resides in the provision of positive means for returning the scale beam to its zero position after each successive tripping operation of the Weight receiver. While the springs and the one-way dashpot allow for rapid return of the beam toward normal position following a given tripping of the weight receiver, yet if materials being weighed are being passed with rapidity through the opening 2 toward the weight receiver, it may occur that after the tripping of one compartment, a suflicient amount of material will be deposited in the other compartment to prevent the complete return of the beam to With the use of recording apparatus of the type disclosed in Figs. 6 and 8, it is important that the beam should return positively to its zero or normal position for record producing purposes. I attain this result by providing the under side of the beam 45, between the pivotal point of the weight receiver and the fulcrum 46, with a roller 10. This roller is arranged in the path of movement of the peripheral portion of a cam 1| which is carried by a shaft 12 journaled in connection with the frame 41. The contour of the cam 1| is such that the roller 18 will not engage therewith during normal downward movement of the beam in response to applied weights, but when the cam is rotated, by automatic means operative following tripping of the weight receiver, its peripheral portion will engage with the roller to positively cscillate the beam in an upward direction until its normal position is obtained.

The automatic means for governing the operation of the cam 1| has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings as comprising a switch 13 mounted in connection with one of the check rods 58. The oscillating shaft 58 of the weight receiver is equipped with a crank arm 14 as disclosed in Fig. 9. The path of movement of the outer end of the crank arm is such that it will intersect the lower end of a flexible switch arm 15, causing positive flexure of the latter to a point suilicient to effect its momentary engagement with one or the other of a pair .of stationary contacts 1B, constituting a part of the switch 13. The contacting of the switch arm with one or the other of the contacts 16, energizes a solenoid 11 which oscillates an armature 18 pivotally mounted as at 18 in a magnetic clutch casing 8|). The lower end of the armature 18 engages with a sliding key 8| constituting a part of a sliding clutch member 82, which is normally spaced from the teeth of a constantly driven rotating clutch member 83. The member 83 is driven through means of suitable speed reducing gearing 84 by a constantly operating electric motor 85 disposed in an electrical circuit 86 in which is arranged a hand operated switch 81. The rotation of the clutch member 82 drives a shaft 88 which through direct gearing 89 revolves a shaft on which the cam 1| is mounted. By this arrangement, Whenever the weight receiver oscillates to automatically trip its load, the switch 13 is momentarily closed by the wiping engagement of the arms 14 and 15. This momentarily energizes the solenoid 11, which moves the pivoted armature 18 against the resistance of the spring 88 associated therewith. The oscillation of the armature 18 forces the key of the clutch member 82 into driving contact with the teeth of the constantly driven clutch member 83, this being effected against the resistance offered by the spring 88. The clutch member 82 is constantly held in driving relation with the clutchmember 83 for one complete cycle of rotation of 360 by the engagement of the clutch member 82 with the stationary bearing 92 of the casing 88, this being necessary since the armature 18 is but momentarily energized and is quickly re tracted by its spring 98. When the clutch member 82 rotates through its full cycle of movement, the spring 98 thereof declutches said clutch member by allowing the clutch member 82 to be forced backwardly in a recess 93 formed in the bearing 92 and into normal contact with the lower end of the armature.

In View of the forego-ing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a means for weighing and automatically recording or registering the Weight of loose bulk materials while the latter are falling by gravity from an upper discharge level to a lower receiving level. The apparatus is particularly useful by large users of coal, such as public buildings, manufacturing plants and the like, for the purpose of determining and checking the weights of coal received from dealers at the time of its delivery. So far as` I am aware, no weighing apparatus is provided at the present time for meeting this commercial need in a simple, practical Way without interfering with the speed of coal delivery or transference. The present invention therefore provides a means whereby the buyers of coal will be assured of the accuracy of the weight and the quantity .of the coal actually delivered. It will be understood, however, that the invention is applicable to many other industrial applications wherein material undergo ing transference is required to be weighed in a substantially continuous and automatic manner. The stop pins 43 engage with the check rod devices not only for the purpose of limiting the oscillation of the weight received but also for the added purpose of enabling the check rod mechanism to function in the usual capacity of such mechanism in permitting materials to be weighed to be placed at any desired position on the weight receiver with respect toy its pivotal axis.

What is claimed is:

1. In weighing apparatus, a pivotally supported beam, resistance means for yieldably resisting deflective movement of said beam from a normal position. a self-discharging receiver pivotally supported by said beam at a position intermediate of the length of the latter, and means actuated by the movement of said weight receiver `for positively restoring said beam to its normal position after each ,operation of said weight receiver to discharge material therefrom.

2. In Weighing apparatus, a pivotally supported resistance means for yieldably resisting defiective movement of said beam from a normal position, a self-discharging receiver pivotally supported by said beam at a position intermediate oi the length of the latter, means actuated by the movement of said Weight receiver for positively restoring said beam to its normal position after each operation of said Weight receiver to discharge material therefrom, and means actuated by the movement of said beam for disclosing the weight of the materials introduced into said weight receiver.

3. In a Weighing mechanism, a pivotally mounted beam, spring means yieldably resisting defiective movement of said beam from a normal position, a self-discharging weight receiver pivotally supported by said beam intermediately of the length of the latter, and means for positively restoring said beam to a normal position upon discharge of materials from said weight receiver.

4. ln a weighing mechanism of the character described, a support, a beam pivoted at one end to said support, spring means arranged at the opposite end of said beam to yieldably resist deiiective movement thereof from a normal position, a self-discharging Weight receiver pivotaliy carried by the intermediate portion of said beam, said weight receiver including a pair of V-shaped hoppers mounted in offset relation to the pivotal mounting of said weight receiver, and check means cooperating with said beam and weight receiver to hold one of said hoppers in load receiving position at all times.

5. In a weighing mechanism of the character set forth, a support, a beam pivotally mounted at one of its ends on said support, spring means connecting the opposite end of the beam to said said weight receiver to vary the tipping moment thereof.

6. In a weighing mechanism of the character described, a support, a beam pivotally mounted at one of its ends on said support, spring means arranged to yieldably resist defiective movement of said beam from a normal position, a weight receiver pivotally supported by the intermediate portion of said beam, said weight receiver comprising a pair of hoppers mounted in offset relation With respect to the pivotal mounting of said weight receiver, a check link mechanism connected to said beam and support, means provided on said hoppers for engaging said check link mechanism to maintain one of said hoppers in a material receiving position at all times and a recording mechanism connected to said check link mechanism and serving to indicate the defiective movement of said beam.

'7. Apparatus for weighing loose bulk materials during transference thereof, comprising a pivotally supported beam, means for yieldably resisting defiective movement of said beam in direct proportion to the load applied thereto,

means to disclose defiective movement of said beam from its normal position, a self-discharging receiver for the materials being weighed pvotally supported by said beam, said receiver being formed with at least a pair of compartments disposed in offset relation to the pivotal axis of the weight receiver on said beam, check means carried by said beam, and stop means engaging said check means to position each of the cornpartments of said weight receiver to receive the materials being weighed.

8. In weighing mechanism of the character set forth, beam pivotally mounted at one end, spring means connected with the other end of said beam and serving to resist defiective movement of the beam from a given normal position thereof, a one-Way dash pot cooperative with said beam, a weight receiver pivotally supported by said beam intermediately of the length thereof, check rod mechanism pivotally connected with the beam at the point of connection of the weight receiver, stop members provided upon said weight receiver and engaging said check rod mechanism to limit pivotal movement of said weight receiver, means for effecting positive discharge of the contents of the weight receiver when the latter has been filled to a predetermined degree with the materials undergoing weighing, and accumulative weight recording mechanism automatically actuated by the movements of said beam from its normal position.

NATHAN A. HALLWOOD. 

